Three Souls and Revelation

15 Apr, 2001

Dear Phyllis,

Hallelujah!!! Today is Resurrection Sunday! Today we celebrate Our Lord’s victory over death. Our little fellowship here has been considerably less than a blessing for a long time and usually it is more ganman than a blessing to preach here, but this morning the Lord met with us in a marvelous way. During the week, as I was considering what to preach on, one of my favorite verses came to mind – “and Peter” (Mk. 16:7). That has got to be one of the most powerful two words in the Bible. What a volume of emotion it expresses! I think that is one of the most gracious words in the Scriptures. What a volume of relief that spoke to a man who was locked into a dungeon of despair! But then as I began to think about all that happened that day, my mind ultimately came to the experience of three representative souls that the Lord revealed Himself to the first resurrection Sunday.

Obviously, the first one was Mary. The significant feature, why she was so honored to be the first one the Lord met with, was her passion. Her theology was somewhat lacking and she did some “foolish” things, but her passion for the Lord was marvelously rewarded in being the first one to speak with the Risen Lord. This is – of course – our greatest deficiency. We wonder why we enjoy so little of the Lord’s presence and blessing in our lives, and I believe we don’t have to search much further than our frosty hearts. If we had more of a passion for the Lord, perhaps we would see more of the Lord ourselves.

The second representative was Peter. He was brim full of confidence but didn’t know his own heart. When he said he was ready to die for the Lord he meant it and proved it when he pulled out the sword and dove into that crowd of soldiers. He fully expected to be cut down in the fray but he was determined to go down fighting. Then the Lord told him to put up his sword and he stood there embarrassed at his own foolishness and the Lord’s strange passivity. Three hours later he uncorked in front of that little girl and swore “I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t know that guy!” Then the Lord turned and looked at him and his world disintegrated. John was standing by the Cross to the final end, but there was no mention where Peter was during that horrible day and the one following. It is a miracle that we don’t read about Peter going out to commit suicide. Then the Lord sent a special message to him via an angel and the women, “Go tell the disciples AND PETER…” That must have been a shaft of light in his darkened soul, but he still wasn’t sure until the Lord Himself met with him a few hours later (Lk 24:34).

 The third representatives were the two Emmaus disciples (Lk. 24:13-35). The thing that is significant about them is that they come the closest to representative us. The main feature there was that their eyes we holden and then opened (Lk. 24:16, 31). How often has the Lord spoken to us by that verse that says “Jesus Himself drew near and went with them…(but they knew Him not).”! I had a close friend in Ikoma that was the most child-like man I ever met. One time he determined that he would meet with the Lord every morning and do one thing each day – whatever – the Lord told him to do. He had been doing that for several weeks when the Lord said a surprising word. He said, “John, I am going to visit you today.” John was thrilled and rushed home to change his clothes to meet the Lord. He had breakfast with his family and sat down in a chair in the living room to wait for the Lord to come. After a while the fellow next door came over and had a cup of coffee. Around 10 a couple students from the Bible school stopped by to see him – but no Lord. Finally he got a little edgy and asked the Lord what time He was coming. He said, “I have other things to do today and can’t sit here all day. Lord Jesus, what time are You coming?” Then the Lord said, “John, I HAVE BEEN HERE ALL MORNING.” With that John burst into tears.

When these disciples exasperatedly poured out their heart about all the turmoil in Jerusalem over the execution of Jesus of Nazareth, it is interesting that He didn’t rebuke them for not believing the testimony of the women who told them that Jesus was alive. He said, “O fools and slow of heart to believe the SCRIPTURE!” (verse 25). Then “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scripture the things concerning Himself.” (verse 27). I wish someone had recorded that. I would love to listen to that conversation. I would love to know what verses He talked about. It was as He was expounding the Scripture to them that their hearts burned within them (verse 32). This morning I asked our few believers (four others), “Have you ever experienced this; as you read the Bible your heart burned within you?”  After very serious thought, each one replied, “Yes I have.” There was a tremendous sense that Jesus indeed met with us this morning.

Somehow the distance to heaven seems shortened. Phyllis we didn’t lose Ted this year. He is not dead. He is no more removed from us than when our children went to the states for education. It was true that there was an ocean between us, but the separation was only momentary. The great thing about Ted is that he isn’t coming back here, but we are going there to see him. And that won’t be long.

People ask me from time to time if I would like to be remarried. Obviously that is a thought that has gone through my brain a great deal, but somehow it seems a little foolish. Hopefully, I won’t be around here much longer and I would hate to marry someone and then skip out on them after a year or two. If I knew I had to put in another 20 years in this sandy wilderness, it sure would be nice to have a partner, but – hopefully – we are very near the wire and I can hold on for a few more months. Beside it would be a shame to give up the expendable status the Lord has given me. That would cut down on the ministry. The Lord has given me the privilege to do some things in Laos and Vietnam that would be highly questionable for a family man.

Last week my good friends, Mark and Astrid Seibert, from Chiang Mai were here. We had a fabulous time going down to the Kansai. We spent the first night with my friends the Hirotas in Ikoma. Miyuki is the greatest hang-in-there gal I have ever met. When they were married his father was fierce! He was a powerful shacho (company president) and adamantly opposed to the Gospel. While we were there the Hirotas shared the testimony of what happened to him. As this terrifying old man got older Miyuki led him around like a little lamb. Finally he got so weak they stuck him in a hospital and then he came down with pneumonia that looked like it might take his life. When the old man knew he was facing death he protested, “I can’t die yet – I’m not saved!” That was the first time he ever said anything like that. Then they moved him to a new hospital. One day one of the nurses asked Miyuki, “Ojii san ga, nani ka no shukyo o yatte iru no desu ka?” (Does he practice some kind of religion?) “He refuses to eat until he says table grace.” They were bikkuri at that. Then his relatives came from Taiwan with some Buddhist trash to help him die. When they showed up with these idols he sent them packing saying, “I don’t need that junk! I’m a Christian!” Miyuki and Hirota san were thrilled. And they were tremendously grateful to the Lord when their father finally made it safely across the River. You would have to know this fierce man to appreciate this testimony, but when I think of where they started from and where they wound up I can’t help but laugh.

Mark has got a large number of folks coming to Chiang Mai for Bible courier service into Vietnam and Laos in May. He is really komaru and asked me to get down there to take a group of these young people into Laos. On my last trip I was able to set up a new route into north central Laos and I am the only one that knows those contacts. That means I have to get back to Chiang Mai by May 18^th to take these folks to Siang Khouang. These folks from a Bible school have requested the hardest route Mark has and that has got to be it. Laotians don’t recommend gaijins to take the bus in that area as it is dangerous with bandits and a real bone crusher of a trip. Only the most hardy souls could make that one. If they want a challenge they should be thrilled. It is the hardest course I know in the Orient. We also have several runs scheduled into Vietnam but we don’t know whether or not Mark and I can get in. Mark got turned back at the airport in Saigon the last time. I have to get a new passport in a couple of months and will see if that helps me. If we are on a bad blacklist that would greatly restrict our ministry in Vietnam. (I did send you a copy of the last dendo trip report where we were arrested didn’t I?)

 I wonder where you are and how you are doing. You should be in Texas – I think. But even so these letters should be waiting for you when you get back. In case you are short of reading material at least this will give you something to read.

David sent me an amazing E-mail some time ago but I just worked up nerve enough to read it last week. It is the best letter he has ever sent me. He is not where I wished he was spiritually, but he seems to be much better than I had thought. He said in another ten days he hoped to close a deal that was in the eight digit bracket. If that came through he planned to retire this year. He said in another year or two he hoped to set up a fund to finance my SEA dendo by about $200,000 a year. I appreciate the offer but I assured him that dendo was financed by a different account. Lord willing, I hope I never will be in a position where he has to carry me. The Lord’s work is always financed by Temple currency and to get that you have to convert mammon for the Lord’s gold. I refuse to use unconverted currency.

                                                           My prayers and love in Jesus are with you daily, bill